Latest coverage
Crypto News
Daily market updates, protocol news, regulation coverage, and Web3 trend tracking from the ChainBrief editorial desk.
Telegram
Join ChainBrief on Telegram
Get crypto news, market signals and project updates directly in your Telegram feed.
Crypto Groups Add Illinois Digital Asset Tax Challenge
The Crypto Council for Innovation and the Blockchain Association have joined a new lawsuit against Illinois over its recently approved 0.2% tax on digital assets.
China expands e-CNY bank roster with eight more operators this week
China’s central bank added eight more operators to the e-CNY network this week, bringing the year’s total additions to 20 across two expansion rounds, according to CoinDesk.
Nomura-Backed Laser Digital Wins Japan’s First Crypto Approval in Four Years
Laser Digital Japan has received approval to provide liquidity to domestic crypto firms, with institutional trading services expected later as demand for digital assets builds in Japan.
Bitcoin Rallies Above $77,000 as Weekly Gain Extends, Lifting Altcoins
Bitcoin rose above $77,000 and posted its strongest week since 2023, with altcoins following the move as traders continued to bet against the rally.
X Explores Stablecoins for Creator Payments, According to CoinDesk Source
X is exploring the use of stablecoins to pay influencers and content providers, according to a person familiar with the matter. The discussions are ongoing, though details remain limited.
Bitcoin Reclaims $72,000 as Strategy and Coinbase Extend Gains
Bitcoin has climbed about 15% since Monday, recovering key technical and on-chain levels as bullish sentiment strengthens.
BitGo wins South Korea virtual asset license, says it is first global crypto firm to do so
BitGo says its South Korea unit has secured a virtual asset license, a step the company describes as a first for a global crypto firm. The local arm was built from scratch with backing from Hana Financial Group and SK Telecom.
Bitcoin Climbs as Treasury Measure Reads as Signal, Not Policy Shift
Bitcoin is moving higher alongside hard assets after traders interpreted the Treasury’s latest measure as a market signal rather than a classic policy change, according to CoinDesk.
Treasury Buyback Tweak Spurs Bitcoin’s Sharp Rally Toward $80,000
A change to Treasury buyback operations helped ease pressure on long-term yields and coincided with a fast bitcoin rally, even as analysts said the move is not equivalent to quantitative easing.
Bitcoin tops $71,000 as a six-week trading range gives way to a large short squeeze
Bitcoin moved above $71,000 after six weeks of tight trading, triggering what CoinDesk said was the largest short liquidation since at least 2021, with about $3 billion in bearish bets forced to unwind.
Unitree IPO Draws Wide Gap Between Public Offer and Hyperliquid Pricing
Hyperliquid traders are valuing Unitree far above its IPO pricing, with Allium analysts saying leveraged positions could be exposed when trading opens.
Stablecoin Yield Debate Keeps Banks and Crypto at Odds
Banks are pressing the case for keeping deposits in lower-yield products, while crypto firms argue stablecoins should be allowed to compete more directly on yield. The policy fight is gaining traction.
Clarity Survives, Strategy Sells and Mastercard’s Crypto Deal: Five Takeaways From the Week
Washington kept crypto’s most important legislative effort alive, Wall Street extended its reach into digital assets, and a security scare moved billions of dollars of bitcoin between wallets.
TradFi giants deepen push into digital assets as old crypto-vs-banks divide fades
Financial firms are partnering with specialists to build digital-asset infrastructure, signaling a narrower gap between traditional finance and crypto markets.
Ethereum Advocate Raman Warns Wall Street’s Private Blockchain Push Could Be a ‘Race to the Bottom’
Ethereum advocate Raman says permissioned blockchain networks may have a place in finance, but argues they need an open, transparent base to capture the broader benefits of the technology.
Bitcoin Holds Near $63,500 as ETF Flows Turn Positive
Bitcoin was little changed near $63,500, but spot ETF demand has improved, with more than 14,000 BTC flowing in over five days and third-quarter flows turning positive, according to ARP Digital's Yusuf Fakhro.
Goldman Says a September Fed Rate Increase Looks Unlikely
Goldman Sachs is leaning against a September Federal Reserve rate increase, citing softer economic data in a note that may be supportive for bitcoin sentiment.
XRP Traders Position for a Bounce as Price Falls to $1
XRP traders are leaning long even as the token slips to $1 and sentiment weakens, with futures open interest rising to $2.78 billion.
Bitcoin Approaches $64,000 in Asia Trading as HYPE Posts Weekly Gain
Bitcoin edged toward $64,000 in Asia morning trading on Sunday, while HYPE rose 8% over the week. Major tokens were up on the day but remained lower over seven days.
The SEC meeting that wasn’t: State of Crypto
Expectations for regulatory movement had built if the Clarity Act stalled, but those hopes now appear to be on hold.
Trump Expected at White House Meeting With Crypto, AI and Prediction Markets CEOs, Sources Say
President Donald Trump is expected to join a White House meeting next week with executives from crypto, prediction markets and AI, according to people familiar with the plan.
World Liberty Receives Conditional Federal Bank Charter Approval
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has given preliminary conditional approval to World Liberty Trust Co., a step toward a federal bank charter.
Tokenization Stocks Ease After SEC Delay Slows Crypto's Wall Street Push
Bullish, Coinbase and Circle traded lower Friday after an SEC delay added a setback to crypto’s push into traditional markets.
Israel’s Largest Bank to Add Crypto Trading With Galaxy
Bank Leumi plans to let customers trade bitcoin, ether and solana through its investment app starting in early 2027, according to CoinDesk.
Trump Family-Linked World Liberty Financial Delays Maldives Resort Token Sale
World Liberty Financial has postponed plans to sell a token tied to a Maldives resort after the Iran war disrupted travel in the region, according to CoinDesk.
Bitcoin Pulls Back as Inflation Data Fails to Lift Crypto Markets
Bitcoin retreated after U.S. inflation data failed to trigger a broader risk-on move, while spot bitcoin ETFs posted their first two-day outflow streak of August and altcoins lacked clear direction.
RedotPay reportedly pauses $1 billion U.S. IPO plan, Bloomberg says
RedotPay, a stablecoin payments company, has reportedly put a planned $1 billion U.S. initial public offering on hold, according to Bloomberg. The company declined to comment on IPO plans.
SEC Again Delays Tokenization 'Innovation Exemption' Amid Policy Pushback
The SEC is set to delay its planned innovation exemption for tokenization again, according to CoinDesk, after Wall Street and White House concerns complicated the timing.
SEC Delays Long-Awaited Crypto Rule Proposal, Scraps Meeting Date
The SEC has postponed a scheduled meeting on its first major crypto rule proposal, leaving the timing of the effort unclear.
MUFG Plans Blockchain Settlement Trial for Japanese Government Bond Trades
MUFG is preparing a proof-of-concept for real-time, onchain settlement of Japanese government bond trades using the Canton network, according to CoinDesk.
Brazil Bitcoin Treasury Firm Eyes ETF Tied to Strategy’s STRC
Brazil’s largest bitcoin treasury firm plans an ETF that would allocate 95% to Strategy’s STRC, with a distribution target linked to Brazil’s interbank rate plus 3 to 5 percentage points, net of costs.
Bitcoin Falls Below $63,000 as Oil and Yields Rise
Bitcoin slipped below $63,000 as oil climbed above $82 a barrel and bond yields moved higher, adding pressure to risk assets.
Bitcoin Slips Under Multiple Pressures as XRP Hovers Near $1
Top cryptocurrencies are under pressure as regulatory sentiment weakens, while ETF flows and broader markets are offering little support.
Strategy and Metaplanet face possible MSCI exclusion in new consultation
MSCI has opened a consultation that could sweep in “non-operating companies,” putting Strategy and Metaplanet on the deletion list in a potential index reshuffle.
JPMorgan Ends Banking Relationship With Polymarket, FT Reports
Financial Times reported that JPMorgan ended its banking relationship with prediction platform Polymarket in late 2025, citing regulatory concerns.
Bitcoin Trades in a Tight Range Near $64,000 as Monero and Hyperliquid Outperform
Crypto markets stayed subdued after Wednesday’s CPI print, with bitcoin hovering near $64,000 while Monero and Hyperliquid outpaced the broader market.
Bitcoin Holds Above $65,000 as Hormuz Deal Talk Calms Markets
Bitcoin traded around $65,209 as reports that Iran may strike a deal with Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz eased geopolitical worries and supported risk assets, including Nasdaq 100 futures.
Bitcoin volatility falls to a 2025 low as traders still pay up for downside protection
Bitcoin volatility has dropped to its lowest reading since 2025, but options market activity suggests traders are still willing to pay for protection against a pullback.
Hedge Funds Flip Net Long on CME as Weak Futures Yields Weigh on Basis Trade
CME leveraged funds have turned net long, a rare shift that points to fading demand for the once-popular bitcoin basis trade as futures yields soften.
Hardware wallet sales in Russia more than double as new crypto rules approach
Retail demand for hardware wallets has risen sharply in Russia ahead of expected changes to crypto rules, with Wildberries reporting lower average prices and M.Video expanding its selection.
Brazil Central Bank Tells Exchanges to Hold Large Crypto Transfers Abroad
Brazil’s central bank has instructed crypto exchanges to delay outbound transfers above $10,000, while also allowing smaller transactions to be paused if flagged as risky.
A FTX Legacy Argument for the CLARITY Act
Bullish’s Randi Abernethy says the regulatory framework built for mainstream finance should also apply to digital assets as crypto and traditional markets continue to converge.
Bitwise’s Matt Hougan Sees Institutional Capital as Bitcoin’s Next Demand Source
Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan says large capital pools control as much as $200 trillion globally, arguing that even a modest allocation shift could support bitcoin’s long-term growth.
T. Rowe Price Says Memecoins Fit Its Crypto ETF Rules
The $1.9 trillion asset manager said leaving out established memecoins on principle would conflict with its active approach to crypto investing.
Senate Advances First Step on Crypto Clarity Act Vote, Keeping September Window Open
The Senate has moved the Clarity Act into the first stage of its multi-step voting process, preserving a path for the bill to clear the chamber’s 60-vote threshold next month.
U.S. expands Iran crypto sanctions to two exchanges
The Treasury’s OFAC has sanctioned Shelbit and Aban Tether as Washington steps up efforts to limit Tehran’s access to crypto and foreign currency.
Russia Says It Cracked Down on Unlicensed Crypto Exchanges Tied to Ukraine
Russia’s FSB said it arrested at least 20 people in a case involving unlicensed crypto exchanges it claims were linked to Ukraine and used to defraud Russian citizens.
JPMorgan Says Hyperliquid ETF Inflows Have Stalled as Competition Grows
JPMorgan said demand for Hyperliquid-linked exchange-traded funds cooled in July and August after strong inflows in May and June, with competition in the market intensifying.
U.S. Jobs Miss Raises Doubts Over September Fed Move
U.S. payrolls unexpectedly fell in July, weakening the case for a Federal Reserve rate hike in September and pushing market odds below 50%, according to CoinDesk.
Crypto policy focus shifts as U.S. bill misses summer window
With the Senate headed into its summer recess and the U.S. crypto bill running out of time, market attention is turning to alternative routes for policy progress.
BIP-110 Keeps Moving as Miner Support Remains Thin
Bitcoin's BIP-110 has drawn only limited miner backing, but its user-activated structure means the proposal is still on course for an activation date, and likely beyond it.
Bitcoin Stays Below $65,000 as Middle East Tensions Deepen
Bitcoin remained under $65,000 as renewed Middle East tensions and a jump in Brent crude kept markets cautious, according to CoinDesk.
About 210,000 bitcoin move out of older wallets as custody shifts draw attention
Roughly 200,000 bitcoin have moved from long-term holder wallets over the past week, a pattern that may point to a custody change rather than outright selling.
Bitcoin Infrastructure Hit Again as Lightning Payment Servers Reportedly Drained
BTCPay said users running LND should update immediately or take servers offline after attackers stole credentials that could control Lightning wallets and move funds.
XRPL amendment proposal would add selective privacy for tokenized assets
An XRP Ledger amendment proposal would let institutions encrypt token balances and transfer amounts while preserving selective access for issuers, auditors and regulators, according to CoinDesk.
Bitcoin holders warned of replay risk if BIP-110 fork creates minority chain, developer says
A developer warned that if a minority chain emerges from the BIP-110 fork this weekend, selling fork coins could be replayed on Bitcoin itself, making inaction the safer approach until chains can be separated.
Yellow Card raises $40 million to expand stablecoin bank links
Yellow Card has raised $40 million in fresh funding as it works to connect banks to stablecoin processing, bringing its total financing to more than $120 million.
The $120 million Coldcard hack puts Bitcoin’s mempool in focus
Bitcoin traders are watching the mempool after a reported $120 million Coldcard hack, with the incident adding a fresh security headline to an already active market backdrop.
XRP Whales Keep Buying the Dip as Ether Shows Deeper Capitulation
CryptoQuant said large XRP spot orders suggest quiet accumulation rather than a breakout, while ether’s price below realized value points to deeper capitulation and the strongest valuation case among BTC, ETH and XRP.
Clarity Bill Faces Uncertain Path as Senate Recess Nears
The Senate has yet to signal whether it will move forward on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, leaving several possible outcomes as the summer recess approaches.
Ethereum draft proposal targets zero issuance at $112 billion in staked ETH
An EIP-8361 draft would burn a growing share of validator rewards as staking rises, with issuance falling to zero if staked ETH reaches $112 billion.
DeFi Platform Repositions as Backend Infrastructure After Consumer App Stalls
A DeFi platform that once centered on a consumer app has shifted toward enterprise and OTC lending as revenue fell in the bear market, with outstanding loans at $260 million and a $1 billion year-end target.
Bernstein Warns of More Crypto Weakness if Clarity Act Stalls
Bernstein said crypto could face another leg lower if the Clarity Act does not pass this year, while still expecting U.S. regulators to keep advancing rulemaking.
BlackRock adds blockchain-based money market funds in tokenized cash push
BlackRock has expanded its tokenized cash lineup with new blockchain-based money market offerings that are intended to qualify as reserve assets for certain U.S. stablecoin issuers under the GENIUS Act.
Perpetuals Move Beyond Crypto as Exchanges Test 24/7 Access to Traditional Assets
Crypto exchanges built perpetual futures for digital assets. Some are now using the same structure to offer around-the-clock exposure to stocks, commodities and indexes.
Bitmine Adds Ether, Expands Buyback as Tom Lee Cites July Strength
Bitmine boosted its ether holdings and widened its stock buyback program last week, with Chairman Tom Lee pointing to ether’s July performance versus the Nasdaq as evidence of improving crypto fundamentals.
Strategy Sells More Bitcoin, Rebuys $81.2 Million of STRC
Strategy cut its bitcoin holdings by 1,638 coins last week while raising $290.6 million through common stock sales and repurchasing $81.2 million of STRC, according to CoinDesk.
Bitget to Exit Japan, Winds Down Remaining Positions by Year-End
Bitget has stopped new registrations in Japan and plans to close out all remaining positions by Dec. 31, according to CoinDesk.
Solo Bitcoin Miner Reportedly Secures $200,000 Reward as Coldcard Reference Weighs on Sentiment
A solo Bitcoin miner reportedly landed a roughly $200,000 block reward, while market chatter around Coldcard hardware wallets added to a softer tone in crypto sentiment.
Bitcoin, Ether Slip as Coldcard Exploit Weighs on Market Sentiment
Bitcoin and ether edged lower as a Coldcard exploit continued to pressure sentiment in crypto markets, though the price reaction has remained relatively contained compared with the reported scale of the wallet losses.
Bithumb targets 2028 IPO after internal restructuring
Bithumb is aiming for an IPO in 2028, with a preliminary listing review planned for 2027, according to CoinDesk. The company has not yet named a venue for the proposed listing.
Bitcoin Flirts With $64,000 as Traders Watch Thin Liquidity
Bitcoin hovered near $64,000 as August trading started firm in equities, while some market participants pointed to weaker ETF flows, softer CME positioning and limited buying interest rather than panic selling.
Bitcoin Holds Near $63,600 as U.S.-Japan Yen Support Tests Carry-Trade Concerns
Bitcoin traded around $63,600 as rare joint U.S.-Japan action to support the yen raised questions about carry trades. CoinDesk reports the intervention may have slowed the move without changing the broader trend.
Cramer’s quantum worry leaves bitcoin near $64,000
Jim Cramer says he is selling bitcoin over quantum computing concerns, but the market has taken the comments in stride as BTC stays near $64,000.
XRP Holders Can Borrow RLUSD on Ethereum Through $280 Million Lending Pool
XRP holders can now borrow RLUSD against their coins on Ethereum without selling, through a $280 million vault that had not previously accepted an XRP-linked asset.
Coldcard Exploit Spurs Some Bitcoin Holders to Move Funds Back to Exchanges
Blockchain analytics firms say the Coldcard vulnerability is prompting smaller bitcoin holders to shift funds onto exchanges, a contrast with the post-FTX rush into self-custody in late 2022.
Tokenized stock trading jumps 288% in July, led by a single QQQ-linked product
Tokenized equity trading rose sharply in July, but most of the activity appears to have come from one QQQ-linked token, QQQB, according to CoinDesk. Without it, monthly volume would have been materially lower.
Bank of Italy Study Questions Stablecoin Savings on Remittances
A Bank of Italy research note suggests stablecoins may not deliver lower remittance costs once exchange fees, FX spreads and banking rails are included.
Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Falls 14% as Operators Face Squeezed Margins
Bitcoin mining difficulty has dropped 14% from this year’s high as weak economics force operators to cut capacity, while forward markets suggest limited relief through the end of the year.
SEC to Review Nasdaq Bitcoin Options Approval After CME Challenge
The SEC will review its approval of Nasdaq bitcoin options after CME challenged whether the product belongs under the agency’s authority, citing bitcoin’s status as a commodity and the CFTC’s role.
The Perps Market May Be Converging With Crypto, Not Wall Street
Crypto is often described as maturing into a Wall Street-style market. A view attributed to Bitget CEO Gracy Chen suggests the biggest derivatives venue may point in the opposite direction.
Solana Foundation’s New CISO Flags AI-Driven Crypto Scam Risk
Michael Coates, the Solana Foundation’s new CISO, says AI vulnerabilities and fake identities could shape the next wave of blockchain security concerns.
Dubai-based crypto exchange linked to alleged $4 billion Iran sanctions-evasion network
Shelbit has been tied to a network that allegedly moved funds between gambling sites, sanctioned Iranian entities and major crypto exchanges, including Binance, according to CoinDesk’s reporting.
World Cup prediction markets reach $20 billion as novelty bets grow
Prediction markets tied to the World Cup have surpassed $20 billion in volume, with trading spanning both match outcomes and novelty questions.
CZ urges wallet diversification after reported Coldcard exploit
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao said hardware wallets can still contain bugs and advised spreading holdings across multiple wallets after a reported $70 million Coldcard security failure.
U.S. Sanctions Iran-Linked Bitcoin Insurance Scheme for Strait of Hormuz Shipping
The Treasury Department says a platform called Hormuz Safe used bitcoin and other digital assets in an alleged sanctions workaround tied to IRGC-backed shipping controls.
Traders brace for August crypto pullback as $60,000 bitcoin protection tops the market
A day-ahead market brief for July 31, 2026, as traders position for a potentially weaker August and downside protection around bitcoin’s $60,000 level gains traction.
Bitcoin, Ether Slip as Broader Crypto Market Heads for Strongest Month in a Year
Bitcoin and ether moved lower as July ended, even as Asian stocks advanced and U.S. futures pointed higher. The CoinDesk 20 index is on pace for its biggest monthly gain in a year.
New York Sues Kalshi Over Alleged Unlicensed Gambling Operation
New York has sued Kalshi, accusing the prediction-market company of running an unlicensed gambling business and seeking to block its operations as well as financial redress.
XRP Ledger to Restore Two Features Pulled Over Security Bugs in Upcoming Upgrade
The XRP Ledger’s next xrpld 3.3.0 release is expected to include five amendments, among them two revised features that were previously withdrawn after researchers identified bugs tied to unauthorized transactions and fee draining.
Strategy Posts $8.2 Billion Q2 Loss After Bitcoin Price Decline
Strategy, the largest corporate holder of bitcoin, reported an $8.2 billion second-quarter loss tied to the decline in bitcoin prices and said it has built a cash reserve that covers more than two years of dividend payments.
Coinbase Falls 5% After Q2 Revenue Miss
Coinbase shares slid after the company reported second-quarter revenue of $1.22 billion, below estimates and down from $1.5 billion a year earlier.
Global Banks Test Tokenized Money in BIS Cross-Border Pilot
A group of 28 banks, including JPMorgan, Citi and UBS, took part in a live BIS pilot that moved real money across borders using blockchain-based settlement.
Ondo Finance Said to Be Weighing Acquisition as Crypto Infrastructure Consolidation Deepens
Ondo Finance is considering an acquisition valued between $250 million and $500 million, according to CoinDesk, as consolidation continues across crypto infrastructure.
Coinbase Faces Soft Trading Quarter as Investors Focus on Policy Risk
Wall Street is preparing for a weaker second quarter at Coinbase as cooler crypto trading activity weighs on results and attention shifts to U.S. crypto legislation.
Crypto for Advisors: Is the Clarity Act dead?
CoinDesk asks whether the Clarity Act has lost momentum, a reminder that crypto policy remains a moving target for advisors and market participants.
CME's Duffy flags tax uncertainty around U.S. perpetual futures
CME CEO Terry Duffy says a legal fight over whether perpetual futures are swaps or futures could eventually shape how the IRS taxes the contracts. Legal experts say the issue is still unresolved.
Quantum Solutions, Hyperscale Data tap crypto treasuries to fund AI data centers
Quantum Solutions and Hyperscale Data are leaning on crypto treasury holdings to help finance AI infrastructure, highlighting a growing overlap between digital assets and data-center spending.
Bitcoin’s low-volatility stretch sets up a bigger move, but direction is unclear
Bitcoin’s daily swings have tightened to their narrowest since January, a pattern that can make trading conditions quieter before a larger move emerges.
Bitcoin Holds Near $64K as Bank of Japan Keeps Rates at 1%
Bitcoin traded near $64,000 after the Bank of Japan left rates unchanged at 1%, a decision that kept the yen carry trade in place and met markets that had already priced in an October hike.
Bitcoin Holds Near $64,000 as Korea’s Rally Leaves Crypto Behind
Bitcoin traded near $64,000 after a record surge in South Korea’s Kospi pushed Samsung and SK Hynix sharply higher, while major cryptocurrencies remained subdued.
Bitcoin wallet flaw linked to 594 BTC drain in 25-minute sweep
A hardware wallet randomness flaw made private seeds more predictable, allowing 594 BTC, worth about $38 million, to be swept in minutes, according to CoinDesk.
What 2026’s Crypto Hacks Say About Security
A CoinDesk column argues that most of 2026’s stolen crypto has not come from contract bugs, but from weaknesses in keys, signers and governance, underscoring the limits of audits as a security measure.
Ethereum Foundation adds pcaversaccio to board amid leadership changes
The Ethereum Foundation has appointed security researcher pcaversaccio, known as "pc," to its board, expanding the group to four members as leadership changes continue.
How a Hong Kong hike helped reshape crypto derivatives trading
A CoinDesk report revisits the early days of BitMEX and the launch of perpetual futures in 2016, tracing how a Hong Kong hike and a small startup’s bet helped redefine crypto derivatives trading.
About $80 Million ZEC Moves Into Zcash’s New Ironwood Pool on Day One
Roughly 5% of funds from Zcash’s retired Orchard pool have already migrated into the new Ironwood pool, while the remainder stays in a pool that can no longer accept deposits.
Nvidia Leads 37-Member AI Security Alliance, Leaving Out OpenAI, Anthropic and Google
Nvidia and 36 other companies have formed an AI security alliance aimed at letting defenders run protection tools themselves, while major model providers OpenAI, Anthropic and Google are absent.
Perpetual Futures Debate Misses the Real Source of Systemic Risk, Bullish’s Chris Tyrer Says
Critics say perpetual futures could bring systemic risk into regulated markets. Chris Tyrer, president of Bullish Exchange, argues the danger lies less in the contract structure than in how venues set leverage, margins, indexes and default procedures.
Core Scientific Adds AMD AI Deal as Bitcoin Mining Winds Down
Core Scientific is accelerating its shift away from bitcoin mining and into AI data centers after signing an agreement with AMD, following the end of its ASIC arrangement with Block.
BNY Targets $8.6 Trillion Transfer Agency Market With Blockchain-Based Records
BNY plans to keep its existing transfer agency system in place while adding a blockchain-based digital ownership record for tokenized funds, aiming at a market the firm says is worth $8.6 trillion.
Wednesday Fed Meeting Draws Bitcoin Traders’ Focus
Bitcoin traders are watching Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting for any policy signals that could influence risk appetite and near-term market direction.
Bitcoin Holds Above $64,000 as Traders Watch Fed Decision
Bitcoin edged higher and remained above $64,000 ahead of the Federal Reserve's rate decision, with inflation still elevated even as oil prices ease.
Crypto Is Changing How Wall Street Traders Approach Weekends
Around-the-clock crypto trading is pushing Wall Street to rethink a long-held habit: treating weekends as downtime.
Securitize Gains SEC Adviser License as Tokenization Market Broadens
Securitize has secured an SEC adviser license, expanding its regulatory footing as tokenization firms face closer scrutiny over how onchain investment products should be overseen.
Bitmine adds ether as Tom Lee cites ETH/BTC strength as a bullish signal
Bitmine said it bought nearly 10,000 ether while expanding its share buyback, with Tom Lee pointing to a rising ETH/BTC ratio as a sign of firmer crypto prices.
Circle acquires nearly 1,000 IBM blockchain patents
Circle has bought nearly 1,000 blockchain-related patents from IBM in a deal that also covers banking, insurance and cloud security, according to CoinDesk. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Strategy lifts cash reserve to $3.75B after recent stock sales, repurchases $25M of STRC
Strategy said it increased its cash reserve to $3.75 billion after last week’s $544.5 million in common stock sales, while also buying back $25 million of STRC.
CME, CFTC Clash Over Onchain Perpetual Futures as U.S. Crypto Derivatives Open Up
A recent CFTC approval for a crypto perpetual futures listing has intensified a dispute with CME, which argues the move stretches the law and could reshape how U.S. derivatives are offered onchain.
Hong Kong Central Bank Scores Bank Quantum Readiness as Low
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has published a white paper on quantum preparedness across the city’s banking sector, alongside its first Quantum Preparedness Index. The result: lenders are not far along.
Sberbank Plans Crypto Trading Infrastructure as Russia’s Rules Take Shape
Russia’s largest lender is preparing crypto trading infrastructure by December, as new rules on trading, custody and settlement begin to take effect in September.
North Korea Arrests Hackers Accused of Laundering Stolen Bank Funds Through Crypto
North Korean authorities have reportedly arrested a group accused of breaching Central Bank systems and moving stolen funds through crypto, cash and Chinese brokers.
Tokenized Weather Derivatives May Open a New Crypto Use Case
CoinDesk’s Omkar Godbole argues that tokenization could bring weather hedging tools to Main Street, a segment that faces substantial climate-related financial risk but has limited access to such markets today.
Robinhood Chain’s real-world assets jump fivefold as tokenized stocks gain scale
Robinhood Chain’s real-world asset segment has expanded rapidly since mid-July, with tokenized stocks now trading in larger sizes even as memecoins and stablecoins remain the dominant activity on the network.
Shiba Inu jumps 36% as South Korean trading volumes drive unexplained rally
Shiba Inu rose sharply with no clear catalyst, while trading activity appeared concentrated on South Korean venues and other dog-themed tokens did not follow the move.
BitMart to Wind Down Operations After Nine Years as BMX Slides 58%
BitMart said it will shut down after nine years, giving users a month to close trades and six months to withdraw funds. BMX fell sharply after the announcement.
Strategy revises bitcoin metrics as bear market continues
Strategy has updated how it presents bitcoin exposure, giving common shareholders a clearer picture of net holdings after preferred stock and convertible debt obligations.
Brazilian Farmers Use Tokenized Dairy Cows to Access Loans
Brazilian farmers are using tokenized dairy cows and smart collars to secure livestock-backed funding, a workaround that appears aimed at easing bank lending constraints.
EU advances 21st Russia sanctions package with crypto focus
The EU is weighing a ban on third-country crypto service providers for the first time as part of its latest sanctions package against Russia, while also targeting 14 crypto firms that have not been named.
B2C2 Reportedly Held Sale Talks With Multiple Potential Buyers
SBI-owned crypto trading firm B2C2 is said to have drawn takeover interest from several suitors over the past 18 months, though valuation has remained a hurdle.
Crypto’s institutional influx has cooled the memecoin trade
July 24, 2026 market brief from CoinDesk: a sharper institutional presence in crypto is changing the tone around memecoins.
Bitcoin options data points to bullish positioning around $70,000 and $72,000 strikes
Open interest has clustered around Bitcoin call options at $70,000 and $72,000 on Deribit, suggesting traders are leaning bullish even as the broader market outlook remains uncertain.
Bitcoin Holds Near $65,000 as Oil Rally Fails to Dent Crypto Sentiment
Bitcoin traded just below $65,000 on Friday as crypto markets firmed even with Brent crude near a two-month high, suggesting traders were not broadly repricing risk despite fresh gains in oil.
Poolin, Once a Bitcoin Mining Powerhouse, Files for Bankruptcy
Poolin, the Singapore-based mining pool that once accounted for nearly a fifth of Bitcoin’s hashrate, is filing for bankruptcy after accumulating $173 million in debt and beginning to sell remaining assets, according to CoinDesk.
Bitcoin Treasury Firms Are Selling Holdings as Balance-Sheet Pressure Mounts
Former bitcoin accumulators are under pressure from falling share prices, debt obligations and weak market conditions, prompting some to sell holdings, repay debt and rethink their strategies.
India Orders Takedown of Jack Dorsey-Linked Bitchat as Protesters Turn to Mesh Tools
India has ordered the takedown of Bitchat, a Bluetooth mesh messaging app tied to Jack Dorsey, as protesters in Delhi reportedly use offline communication tools during internet shutdowns.
BitMEX Faces Proposed Class Action Over Collateral and Data Access Allegations as Exchange Shuts Down
BitMEX is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit that accuses the exchange of retaining customer collateral and giving an internal desk access to private user data during server freezes, according to a CoinDesk report.
Cardano’s Van Rossum upgrade puts governance in the community’s hands
Cardano’s Van Rossum hard fork moved the network to version 11 over the weekend, marking the first time users, rather than the company behind it, voted on the upgrade.
Exodus to Cut 25% of Workforce as It Pushes Into Payments
Exodus is trimming about a quarter of its global staff as it advances a strategy to become a full-stack payments platform after acquiring Monavate and Baanx.
AI compute stocks rebound after Hut 8 and IREN land large new contracts
AI compute shares recovered after Hut 8 and IREN announced large new contracts, easing investor concerns about demand for fresh data center capacity.
Bitmine slows ether buying as it repurchases $86 million of stock
Bitmine added 7,430 ether last week, a smaller purchase than in prior periods, as it bought back $86 million of its own shares and moved closer to a target of holding 5% of Ethereum’s supply, according to CoinDesk.
Strategy lifts cash reserves to $3.2 billion while bitcoin holdings remain unchanged
Strategy increased its cash reserves to $3.225 billion and left its bitcoin holdings unchanged for a second straight week, directing the new capital toward preferred stock dividends.
Brazil Regulator Forms 60-Day Tokenization Task Force
Brazil’s securities regulator has created a task force to draft a tokenization proposal within 60 days, with questions over ownership records, custody, reversibility and liability still to be addressed.
Bitcoin volatility warning emerges as key indicator turns
A key market signal suggests bitcoin could be entering a period of sharper price swings, according to CoinDesk's day-ahead market note for July 20, 2026.
Bank of Korea Readies Live CBDC Trials With Nine Banks in September
The Bank of Korea is preparing a live central bank digital currency test in September with nine banks, part of a larger blockchain network trial for tokenized won transactions.
Crypto Slips as Equities Rise; PUMP Spikes on Social Chatter
Crypto markets drifted lower even as stock futures advanced, with the Fear and Greed index still pointing to fear. PUMP was the standout, rising about 20% on social-media chatter in an otherwise quiet session.
Hyperliquid plans decentralized prediction markets in HIP-4 upgrade
Hyperliquid said permissionless prediction markets will debut on testnet before a later rollout to mainnet, according to the project’s planned HIP-4 upgrade.
Bitcoin ETFs log fifth straight day of inflows, strongest run since April
Bitcoin exchange-traded funds drew inflows for a fifth consecutive day, extending a roughly $727 million run and marking the most sustained buying streak since April, according to CoinDesk.
UK Parliament Opens Inquiry Into Banking Access for Crypto Firms
A U.K. parliamentary crypto group has launched an inquiry into banking restrictions affecting digital asset businesses, with attention on account denials and transaction limits.
Bitcoin Rises to Two-Week High as Chip Stocks Rebound and ETF Inflows Continue
Bitcoin climbed to a two-week high near $65,500 as Asian semiconductor shares rebounded, spot Bitcoin ETF inflows extended their streak and oil prices eased on diplomacy in the Middle East.
Polymarket Odds on CLARITY Act Passage Slip to Record Low as Senate Talks Stall
Polymarket bettors have pushed the odds of the CLARITY Act passing this year to a record low, with Senate negotiations over ethics provisions still unresolved.
Stripe and Swift Vie for Influence Over Digital Payments Infrastructure
Stripe and Swift are drawing attention from crypto and blockchain analysts as both firms move to shape the rails behind digital payments, signaling a competition for infrastructure rather than consumer-facing products.
Cardano shifts core development to outside teams in decentralization effort
Cardano will hand over key components including the Haskell node, Plutus and Hydra to outside teams as founder Charles Hoskinson says the network needs to change and resume growth.
Inside Robinhood’s high-stakes bet to onboard millions of casual users onto decentralized finance
The company says its advantage lies in bringing retail customers onchain, but early activity remains dominated by memecoins, while its original tokenization vision remains small.
SBI Group Deepens Asia Digital Asset Push With Coinhako Consolidation
Japan’s SBI Group is consolidating Singapore-based Coinhako as part of a broader regional expansion that also includes a tokenization partnership with Ondo Finance, according to CoinDesk.
Bitcoin Faces New Pressure as China’s Kimi Tops Coding Benchmarks
Moonshot’s Kimi K3 moved ahead of Claude and OpenAI in a frontend coding benchmark, while semiconductor shares slipped and crypto traded lower alongside them.
AI Frenzy Cools as Bitcoin Appears Less Volatile Than South Korean Stocks
A day-ahead market note from CoinDesk says the AI trade is losing momentum, while bitcoin’s price swings appear calmer than those of South Korean equities.
Bitcoin Back Near $63,000 as Chip Selloff Pressures Risk Assets
Bitcoin fell back toward $63,000 after a global selloff in chipmakers weighed on risk assets, reversing part of the move that followed this week's softer inflation data.
Bitcoin Falls Below $63,000 as Risk-Off Mood Spreads Across Crypto
Bitcoin slipped below $63,000 as a broader risk-off move, tied to fading enthusiasm for AI stocks and renewed U.S.-Iran tensions, pressured digital assets. A technical gauge suggests the market may be approaching oversold territory.
Keyrock buys BlockFills trading assets to grow institutional cryto push
Keyrock is acquiring BlockFills trading assets in a move that brings institutional clients, derivatives experience and regulatory licenses into its crypto markets business, according to CoinDesk.
Clarity Act Seen as a Key Consumer Protection Measure, Says Blockchain Association Chief
Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger says the Clarity Act could deliver long-awaited consumer protections without waiting for another market crisis.
Crypto for Advisors: Strengthening defenses against AI fraud
A brief market note on how advisors are being urged to tighten controls as AI-driven fraud adds new operational risk across crypto and broader finance.
Alpaca Raises $135M to Expand Tokenized Stock Infrastructure
Crypto brokerage Alpaca has raised $135 million to expand infrastructure for tokenized stocks, as demand grows for on-chain access to traditional equities.
Ledger pushes AI agents toward crypto management, but keeps key approvals manual
Ledger says AI agents could monitor wallets and analyze portfolios, but any sensitive action would still need approval on a hardware device before execution.
Galaxy targets institutional stablecoin yield with new DeFi vaults
Galaxy has launched Galaxy Curator, a Morpho-based platform that gives Fireblocks' institutional clients access to onchain yield strategies, according to CoinDesk.
Bitcoin’s Most Popular Call Option Has Moved $10,000 Lower
CoinDesk’s July 18, 2026 day-ahead market brief flags a notable shift in the most popular bitcoin call option strike.
x402 Foundation Seeks Open Standard for AI Bot Payments
A newly formed x402 Foundation aims to create a neutral standard for AI agentic commerce, bringing competitors and payment methods into a shared framework.
Bitcoin slips from monthly high as traders lock in gains
Bitcoin retreated after touching a monthly peak near $65,500, with profit-taking and renewed geopolitical tension weighing on broader crypto markets.
U.S. sanctions four Iran central bank crypto wallets as Tether freezes $131 million
The U.S. has added four Iran central bank-linked crypto wallets to sanctions, while Tether froze $131 million tied to the addresses, according to CoinDesk.
Airbnb CEO Says X Account Was Hacked, Tokenization Post Was Unauthorized
Brian Chesky said he regained control of his X account after an intruder posted AI-style content about tokenization. He warned new crypto followers he would be a "disappointing follow."
Benchmark lifts Hut 8 target to $165 on AI infrastructure pivot
Benchmark raised its price target on Hut 8 to $165, saying the company’s Beacon Point project could recast it as an AI infrastructure platform with a longer growth runway.
U.S. June CPI Falls 0.4% as Markets Watch Fed Rate Path
A softer June CPI reading could influence expectations for the Federal Reserve’s late-July meeting, though the policy outcome remains uncertain.
Japan’s JCB to Explore Stablecoin Payments With Circle
JCB and Circle plan to test USDC for cross-border payments and merchant transactions as Japan expands efforts to bring stablecoins into everyday commerce.
Tether invests $20 million in Argentine neobank Ualá as Latin America push continues
Tether has taken a $20 million stake in Argentine neobank Ualá, but the company says the investment is purely financial for now, with regional rules blocking any immediate USDT integration.
U.S.-Iran Tensions Pressure Bitcoin and Stocks as Oil Extends Gains
A day-ahead market brief for July 14, 2026, as geopolitical risk supports oil while weighing on bitcoin and equities.
ECB Selects Deutsche Bank, Revolut for Digital Euro Pilot
The European Central Bank has named firms including Deutsche Bank and Revolut for a pilot that will test a beta version of the digital euro across online, offline, in-store and e-commerce payments.
Bitcoin’s BIP-110 Rekindles Debate Over Who Shapes the Network’s Future
BIP-110 aimed to restrict non-financial data on Bitcoin’s blockchain, but the proposal instead reopened long-running arguments over censorship, decentralization and governance.
Signs of life in crypto policy as Clarity Act draft may surface this week
Several sources told CoinDesk that a new draft of the Clarity Act may be released this week, though the policy path remains uncertain.
Stablecoin market cap has fallen $10B since May, but one analyst sees little reason for concern
Stablecoin supply has declined sharply since May, including a $7.7 billion drop in June, but one analyst says the longer-term trend likely remains intact.
Bitcoin Nears Long-Watched Power Law Support Level, Fidelity’s Timmer Says
Fidelity’s Jurien Timmer says bitcoin is approaching a power law support line the firm has tracked since 2015, but he sees no clear catalyst for a rebound yet.
U.S. Inflation and Second-Quarter Earnings Set the Tone for Crypto Markets This Week
Markets enter the week of July 13 with U.S. inflation data and second-quarter earnings reports in focus, factors that could influence broader risk appetite across crypto.
Bitcoin Dips Below $63,000 in Asian Trading After Leveraged Positions Unwind
Bitcoin slipped below $63,000 during Asian trading hours after a modest leverage flush, with liquidations far smaller than the market’s most severe bout over the past month, according to CoinGlass.
Bitcoin Holds Near $63,800 as Broader Markets Swing on U.S.-Iran Tensions
Bitcoin was little changed near $63,800 even as gold, oil, stocks and bonds moved sharply after the fourth round of U.S. strikes on Iran, according to CoinDesk.
Meta Data Chief Calls Agentic Commerce the Next Stage of Business
Meta’s chief data officer says stablecoins are already assumed inside the company, while wider adoption remains the bigger hurdle.
Empery Digital Sells Roughly Half Its Bitcoin as Strategy Shifts Toward AI Data Centers
Empery Digital has sold about half of its bitcoin holdings, marking a shift away from its treasury strategy as the troubled company pivots toward AI data centers, according to CoinDesk.
U.S. digital dollar faces temporary ban as housing bill takes effect
A bipartisan housing bill is set to become law at midnight, bringing with it a temporary ban on a U.S. government digital dollar, according to CoinDesk.
AI-Flagged Ethereum Bug Showed Limits of Automated Security Work
The Ethereum Foundation used coordinated AI agents to probe validator software and uncovered a remotely triggerable crash, though human review was still needed to separate real vulnerabilities from false positives.
Hyundai adopts internal stablecoin transfers, a first for a major South Korean company
Hyundai has become the first major South Korean company known to introduce internal stablecoin transfers, reflecting growing interest in using digital tokens for cross-border treasury operations.
Polymarket Pursues U.S. Approval for Margin Trading as Prediction Markets Expand
Polymarket is seeking regulatory approval to introduce margin-based trading in the United States, moving beyond the fully collateralized structure currently used by its U.S. platform.
Bitcoin $300,000 to $500,000 forecasts face a reality check
Some analysts still see Bitcoin reaching $300,000 or more by 2029, but the data cited in CoinDesk’s report suggests those expectations may be harder to justify than in past cycles.
OKX, MetaMask and Matter Labs Back Genlayer’s AI Dispute Resolution Push
A 27-firm consortium led by the Genlayer Foundation is building infrastructure for AI-based payments, escrow and dispute resolution that can work across platforms.
Binance Expands 24/7 Stock-Linked Futures With Snowflake, AppLovin and Two Energy Infrastructure Firms
Binance Futures has added four USDT-settled perpetual contracts linked to Snowflake, AppLovin, GE Vernova and Vertiv, expanding its range of 24/7 traditional market products.
Coinbase Secures UK Investment License, Opening Path to Stocks and Perpetual Futures
Coinbase has received UK authorisation to provide investment services, creating a regulatory path for retail stock trading and derivatives for eligible advanced and institutional clients.
Latin America’s Largest Stock Exchange Adds Options on Crypto Futures
Brazil’s B3 exchange now offers options on bitcoin, ether and solana futures, with contracts settling into underlying futures rather than spot cryptoassets.
Crypto Holds Up as Equities Weaken, with Altcoin Sentiment Improving Into the Weekend
Bitcoin climbed to $64,400, revisiting a level it could not clear earlier in the week, while traders looked for signs that momentum could extend toward the June 15 high of $67,250.
Polymarket Seeks U.S. Approval for Margin-Based Trading
Polymarket has applied for approval to introduce margin-based trading for U.S. customers, following similar authorization granted to rival Kalshi in March.
Bitcoin Nears $64,000 as Chip Rally and Yen Strength Support Gains
Bitcoin moved close to $64,000 and rose 4.2% over seven days, even as markets absorbed an oil shock, a bond selloff and two rounds of U.S. strikes on Iran.
Circle Rallies After U.S. Trust Bank Approval Adds to Crypto’s Banking Push
Circle gained after securing approval for a U.S. trust bank, adding momentum to a broader crypto effort to enter the regulated banking system.
Japan's 'Invest Locally' Push May Support Demand for Bitcoin, Gold
Japan’s push to encourage domestic investment could add to interest in alternative stores of value such as bitcoin and gold, according to CoinDesk’s July 10 day-ahead market note.
Bitcoin’s $60,000–$70,000 Range Becomes Its Third-Longest Consolidation Band
Bitcoin has remained within the $60,000 to $70,000 range for 307 days, making it the third-longest consolidation recorded in any $10,000 price band.
XRP Rises as Buyers Move Through $1.10 Resistance
XRP gained 2% after a late-session increase in trading volume pushed the token above its recent range, with traders now watching whether $1.10 can become support.
Bitcoin Shows Currency Split as Yen Strength Weighs on JPY Pairs
Bitcoin has remained stronger against the U.S. dollar while underperforming in yen terms, as a sharp rise in the yen affects crypto trading pairs tied to Japan’s currency.
New Hampshire Rejects Bitcoin Bond Proposal at Final Approval Stage
New Hampshire’s executive council voted 3-2 against a proposed bitcoin bond initiative, ending the project at its final stage of government approval.
LERN360 Is Live: What the New Platform Actually Gives Learners
On June 30, 2026, LERN360 entered a new phase. The project is no longer only a vision for how education, credentials and Web3 can work together. It is now a live learning infrastructure that users can access through lern360.ai, explore directly and begin using as part of their own professional development.
Sponsored by LERN360Bitcoin and Ether Hold Steady as Macro Tensions Return to Focus
Bitcoin and ether traded with limited volatility as broader markets reacted to renewed geopolitical tension, rising oil prices and weakness in gold.